Russia and other adversaries are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance cyber-attacks on the UK’s critical infrastructure, Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden is expected to warn at a NATO conference in London on Monday.
McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will announce the establishment of the Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) in London.
The £8.2 million programme, developed in collaboration with the UK intelligence agency GCHQ and other government bodies, aims to counter emerging AI-driven threats. Private sector contributions are also being sought to bolster its efforts.
The minister will highlight the growing risk of cyber-attacks targeting key infrastructure, warning that Russia could weaponise AI to disrupt power grids, telecommunications, and energy networks. “With a cyber-attack, Russia can turn the lights off for millions of people,” McFadden will say.
The UK faces the “daily reality” of a “cyberwar,” he will argue, as Russian hackers intensify efforts against the UK and its NATO allies, particularly those supporting Ukraine with military aid.
Over the past year, these attacks have escalated, targeting media outlets, political institutions, and energy systems.
McFadden’s warning comes amid heightened tensions after Russian President Vladimir Putin recently threatened countries, including the UK, for supporting Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian targets.
While a direct military confrontation with NATO remains unlikely, the possibility of enhanced cyber-attacks is a pressing concern.
Russia has a history of using cyber-attacks against Ukraine, including power grid disruptions in 2015 and 2016 attributed to GRU military intelligence hackers. While Ukraine’s cyber defences have improved, McFadden will caution that AI could enable even more destructive tactics.
The minister will also point to North Korea as an example of how AI is being weaponised in cyber warfare. According to the US, North Korean hackers have already deployed AI to develop advanced hacking tools, a trend likely to be adopted by other adversaries. “North Korea is the first, but it won’t be the last,” McFadden will warn.
The UK government is taking steps to stay ahead of these threats with the LASR initiative, aiming to safeguard critical infrastructure and strengthen resilience against AI-driven cyber-attacks. This marks a significant move to address the growing overlap between AI and cybersecurity challenges.
